by Dr. Andrea Maxim, ND
Estrogen Dominance
This is what happens when we become exposed to excessive amounts of xenoestrogens, man-made estrogens that mimic our natural estrogen. These are found in personal care products, linings of food cans, herbicides and pesticides on our food, the water supply and in plastic Tupperware and water bottles.
12 SIMPLE SNACKS RECIPES BELOW
Estrogen Dominance and Weight Gain
Excess estrogens potentiate weight gain by increasing fat deposition, water retention and bloating. Women with excess estrogen will have more predominant hips, buttock and thighs. So while many songs are about “liking big butts” and “big booties”, unless the woman has always had these curves, that big behind could be a result of the toxic estrogens in the environment. In fact, the more fat cells you have, the more a process called ‘aromatization’ occurs which converts your natural testosterone into more estrogen, thus potentiating even more estrogen production and creating a very unhealthy hormone cycle.
Estrogen Dominance with Menopause
Just the mere thought of a hot flash drives most menopausal women to grab estrogen containing products to keep them at bay. I’m not really sure where this idea came from that menopause = low estrogen. Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is predominantly unopposed estrogen (premarin), usually prescribed without estrogen. The symptoms of menopause may actually be from a sharp drop in progesterone causing endogenous (made by the body) and exogenous (from an outside source) estrogen to rise. Failing to reduce the exposure, detoxifying the xenostrogens present already and flooding the body with more synthetic estrogen will only potentiate weight gain in women.
What you can do to reduce your estrogen dominance?
- Do an estrogen detox high in indole-3-carbinol containing foods like cruciferous vegetables and calcium d-glucarate
- Eat lots of insoluble fiber: this type of fiber specifically binds to excess estrogens and passes them through the stool
- Increase your microflora: the bacteria in your gut actually help you metabolize the bad estrogens and eliminate them from the system
- Be sure to consume your vitamins: a good quality multi, fish oil and greens powder are my personal fav!
- Manage your stress
- Sleep!
Dr Andrea Maxim, ND
www.facebook.com/andrea.maximnd
www.healingjourneynaturopathic.com (Caledonia Clinic)
www.edgarchiropractic.ca (Burlington Clinic)
Twitter: @AndreaMaximND
YouTube: NaturopathicHealing
